October 6, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 26

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PG2 Hometown Heroes | October 2021 No place like home: Frick alumni loves teaching at her alma mater By Shonda Little community that a teacher could ask for. Plus, our teachers. It took a lot of hard work to get there is really nothing like an Erick sunset.” through these last two years. But, every teacher For Erick Public School teacher Heather Teaching at Erick is also a family tradition. here wants to send our kids out into the world George, teaching at Erick is second nature. Both her parents, Joe and Peggy Patten, taught with the best educations possible.” After all, she received a world-class educa- and retired from EPS. Like her parents before George’s hobbies outside of school are sim- tion from Erick. She loved her hometown and her, George has opted to commit her career to ple — she enjoys her family. However, with her classmates. Now she is fortunate enough to the tiny farming enclave. her own childhood new into adulthood, she ac- teach many of her friends’ children. George is currently teaching in the upper el- If home truly is where the heart is, George ementary. She covers third and fourth grade so- knowledges that she is in a transition period. followed hers right back to where her life start- cial studies, fourth grade writing and then shifts She loves shopping for vintage and antique ed. to reading remediation for kids in kindergarten items and spending her time mostly with her “T grew up and was raised in Erick,” George through the third grade in the afternoon. church, the First Baptist of Erick. stated. “I graduated from here in 1992. I went She is the first to acknowledge that the CO- Her advice to younger teachers is to lean into to college at Sayre for two years and then to VID-19 pandemic wasn’t initially easy to navi- advice from older teachers. SWOSU at Weatherford. After that, I moved gate for educators. “T know I made mistakes in my early years away for a while and started my career at Ma- “It’s been quite a learning curve,” George and was fortunate to have such a great staff dill, But, when I faced some life changes, I recounted, “When it first happened, we were around me to lean on. I am so happy to pass knew Erick was where I wanted to be and where thrown into not going to school after spring that experience on to new teachers. I tell them I wanted to raise my two sons. My boys are break in 2020. But, I am proud of how Erick that they will grow to be their own. The young- now adults, and I have no regrets about bring- pushed to have us meet in person as safe as ing them back here. They got to have the up- possible. I want to emphasize that we wanted er teachers also have things to teach us. At Er- bringing that I did. I know the city is for many it safely done, but we also knew the benefit to ick, we are good about bouncing our ideas off people, but I can’t imagine my life anywhere our students to be in person. There were a lot each other and move forward as a team. We let but here. We have the best staff, students and of sacrifices made by parents, students, and God guide us through.” ne We want to thank alll the staff at Thank You to our school bus drivers our local schools for their for keeping our children safe! RES dedication to our kids daily! ELK CITY IRON AND METAL Yauices Cape LLG g 3000 W. HWY 66, Elk City OK 73644 101 Meadow Ridge Drive, Elk City PH: 580-225-2625 ¢ Fax: 580-225-2854 580-303-9022 © janicescafe.com elkcityironandmetal@ gmail.com 6 a.m. until 3 p.m.* 7 DaysA Week